In Izyum district, located in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, authorities recently discovered and safely disposed of approximately 250 Russian anti-personnel mines known as “Petal.” The mines were uncovered by a local farmer while tending to his fields and promptly reported to the Kyiv police bomb squad, as reported on social media.
The farmer, living in the Izyum district, informed law enforcement about the dangerous discoveries left behind by the Russian military. Upon inspection, Kyiv police explosives experts located the PFM-1S mines, popularly referred to as “Petal,” scattered across a significant portion of farmland.
Over the course of a month, the Kyiv police diligently worked to clear the area of the dangerous mines, including a nearby cemetery that had also been mined. The explosives specialists successfully destroyed the mines through controlled detonations, ensuring the safety of the community.
Although the operation was carried out successfully, one of the Kyiv police explosive technicians sustained injuries from an explosion caused by an enemy mine during the demining process. The injured officer was promptly hospitalized for treatment.
Despite the risks involved, the Kyiv bomb squad remains committed to their mission of demining liberated territories, safeguarding cities and villages from the deadly traps laid by the invaders. Their continuous efforts underscore the importance of thorough mine clearance activities in conflict-affected regions.
As reported, an incident involving a tractor detonating an anti-personnel mine near the village of Turove in the Zolochiv community of Kharkiv region on April 20 serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive dangers posed by unexploded ordnance in the area. The diligent work of the Kyiv police bomb squad is instrumental in preventing such tragic accidents from occurring in the future.